From the Mayor's parlour: Make priorities

PUBLISHED: 11:21 22 March 2007 | UPDATED: 13:54 04 May 2010

The Mayor of Ely

ELY City Council is carrying out an audit of public facilities in the city and is also seeking to identify any gaps that need to be filled. With the help of East Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridgeshire ACRE, a database of meeting places and oth

ELY City Council is carrying out an audit of public facilities in the city and is also seeking to identify any gaps that need to be filled.

With the help of East Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridgeshire ACRE, a database of meeting places and other public facilities is being compiled with a view to publicising and promoting them for the benefit of parishioners.

At the same time, a list of additional facilities needed within the city is also being drawn up and readers are invited to prioritise the ideas and to add any others that may occur. This is the first preliminary list, in no particular order.

# Country Park, including visitor/heritage centre.

# More recreational space, which was likely to be addressed by the East Cambridgeshire District Council's leisure survey and report.

# Sporting facilities as revealed by the Olympic initiative, including athletics provision, expansion of the Isle of Ely Rowing Club and more football pitches.

# A multi-purpose hall that could be used for a variety of arts-related activities as well as meetings, dinners and similar functions.

A working party of councillors also agreed that encouragement should be given to the provision of a commercial cinema and hotel with conference facilities.

It was suggested that money given to the community by developers - known as Section 106 funds - could possibly be used to provide land for such ventures.

However, other possible sources of funding will also be investigated by the working party in order to provide Ely with first-class community services and facilities.

If you would like to help, please send your views to the clerk, visit the Ely City Council stall, that will be manned by councillors in the market on Saturday, March 24, or attend the annual parish meeting at the council offices on Monday, April 16, 7.30pm.

April is a busy month for the council with planning meetings on April 2, 16 and 30, all at 6.30pm. There will be full council meetings on April 2 and 30 (both 7pm).

You might want to seek election to the city council on May 3. If so, you will have to get your nomination to East Cambridgeshire District Council by noon on April 4. Contact: 01353 616214 for more details.

And don't forget St George's Day on April 23.

FACTfile

The council's office is open to members of the public between 10am and

2pm on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays each week and the Clerk or her deputy will be happy to deal with enquiries.